Yorktown's End

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June 6, 1942.

Mid-afternoon....

"Hammann is here to help you Miss Yorktown." The destroyer USS Hammann announced formally as Yorktown held herself up with her left hand, completely dead in the water and listing badly.

"Come..., here...." The damaged carrier said weakly, opening her arms with a grateful smile.

"But, the others are watching." Hammann looked around shyly, seeing the other destroyers on the screening line, leering at her and Yorktown.

Mustering all of her strength the silver-haired carrier tilted her head back and yelled aloud.

"Eyes on the horizon ladies!" The destroyers swiftly turned away, minding their own business now as the white-haired destroyer quickly closed the gap and found herself in Yorktown's strong arms.

"This might hurt a bit...." The massive carrier looked down at the Destroyer as the smaller girl smiled up brightly.

"I'll try to keep up." Hammann braced herself, connecting her power with Yorktown.

"Ugghhh!" The destroyer gasped instantly, her engine room bogging down as she tried to catch her breath.

"Y-York...." The white-haired girl moaned, squeezing the carrier girl.

"Please, be strong Hammann...." The small destroyer's boilers roared to life at the carrier's words as Yorktown's power kicked in and began to pump out the sea water out of her engine rooms.

The two sat quietly for awhile as Yorktown began to hum, pausing to see if Hammann knew the words.

The small girl rang her bell rapidly as she knew the words perfectly.

"Pennsylvania 6-5000." The small destroyer said with a bright smile as Yorktown continued humming.

Time passed slowly as the two drifted on the ocean carelessly. Hammann closed her eyes and napped quietly in the carrier's lovingly arms as Yorktown held her tightly and started nodding off.

Just below the water, the Japanese submarine I-168 smiled viciously, looking through her periscope as she had slipped through the destroyer screen and was in the perfect position.

"This is for Kaga and the others!" The dark-haired girl snarled as she prepared her torpedos tubes swiftly.

"FIRE TORPEDOS!"

Suddenly one of Yorktown's 5-inch guns slid off her rigging and splashed into the sea loudly as the small destroyer jerked awake.

"It's ok, it's just one of my... Hammann. HAMMANN! TORPEDOS!" Yorktown's demeanor changed swiftly as she saw four long lance torpedoes, heading right for them.

"Hammann will save Yorktown!" The white-haired destroyer's 20-mm guns fired to life in hopes of destroying them as it was already too late.

Three giant plumes of water roared into the sky next to the two ship-girls, both screaming painfully as fire and shrapnel ripped into their hulls.

Yorktown's coat felt heavier as she looked down at Hammann, gripping her lapels tightly in both of her hands.

"Y-York, I-I-I can't f-feel my l-l-legs...." The little destroyer tried to look down as Yorktown pulled Hammann's face into her chest, feeling the girl's legs slide beneath the surface.

"I-I-I don't w-wanna s-sink...." The smaller girl sobbed, her light blue eyes watering.

Hammann's body jerked despairingly in the carrier's arms as her engines began to shut down rapidly.

"Please, Y-York, I-I don't w-want to b-be a-alone...." Her grip began to slip as the destroyer felt the cold ocean filling her hull.

"Shhhhh, just wait for me ok?" Yorktown said soothingly, despite taking two torpedoes herself as Hammann smiled weakly.

"I'll w-w-wait for...." Yorktown just looked down into Hammann's dead eyes, staring up at her as the white-haired destroyer slowly slid beneath the waves.

"I'm sorry Hammann...." The wounded carrier slowly closed the sinking girl eyes as she disappeared into the depths below.

"Wait for me...."

Yorktown drifted off aimlessly, more damaged now as she knew her time had come.

They had tried to safe her, but it was no good, and now another good ship-girl had to lose her life because of it.

Darkness soon came as the damaged carrier looked into the starry sky above.

"I'm sorry Enterprise, please take care of Hornet, she's going to need you. I just hope you both make it through this...." The sun rose on the horizon as Yorktown closed her eyes, rolled over and sunk quietly to the bottom of the sea.

"And remember, I love you both very much...."  

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